Nandre Burger Fined And Demerit Points Awarded Under IPL Code Of Conduct

Nandre Burger received a 10 per cent match fee fine and one demerit point for an abusive celebration after dismissing Rishabh Pant, under the IPL Code of Conduct. The sanction reflects the league's discipline rules and affects future participation for 36 months.

Rajasthan Royals fast bowler Nandre Burger has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee and given one demerit point for an abusive celebration after dismissing Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant, with the incident recorded as a breach of the Indian Premier League Code of Conduct during their clash at Ekana Cricket Stadium.

The offence came after Pant fell for a duck in a low-scoring contest that Rajasthan Royals eventually won by 40 runs, with Burger’s spell, including the wickets of Pant and Mitchell Marsh, proving central to the result even as the disciplinary sanction drew attention after the game.

Sanctions under IPL Code of Conduct and demerit system

The IPL confirmed the punishment in an official statement, saying: "Nandre Burger, bowler for Rajasthan Royals, has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee and has also received one demerit point for breaching the IPL Code of Conduct during his team's match against Lucknow Super Giants," while noting that the Match Referee handled the matter on field.

The governing body explained that Burger accepted responsibility for a Level 1 offence under Article 2.5, which deals with language, actions or gestures that insult or can provoke another player, adding: "Nandre Burger admitted to the Level 1 offence under Article 2.5 - pertaining to using language, actions, or gestures that disparage or could provoke an aggressive reaction from another player in the match - and accepted the Match Referee's sanction," followed by, "For Level 1 breaches of the Code of Conduct, the Match Referee's decision is final and binding."

Under the IPL Code of Conduct, every player who reaches four demerit points receives one suspension point, which forces that player to miss a match, and these demerit points stay on the record for 36 months, meaning Burger will carry this penalty through future IPL seasons and must manage behaviour carefully.

Season outlook under IPL Code of Conduct spotlight

The IPL did not spell out Burger’s exact words or gestures but video replays showed aggressive signalling and apparent abuse directed at Pant immediately after the dismissal, a moment that also shifted momentum sharply away from Lucknow Super Giants as their captain’s attacking shot selection backfired in a tense chase.

Despite the incident, Burger’s performances have been important for Rajasthan Royals in the 2026 IPL season, with the fast bowler playing all seven matches so far, taking eight wickets at an economy rate of 8.45, underlining value with the ball even as this first demerit point now sits on the disciplinary record.

Rajasthan Royals next face Sunrisers Hyderabad on 25 April at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, which will be the team’s first home match of the 2026 IPL campaign, while Lucknow Super Giants will try to recover quickly when hosting Kolkata Knight Riders on 26 April in a bottom-of-the-table encounter shaped by both form and the recent Code of Conduct flashpoint.